Have you seen Linda or Gary Lightfoot?
An elderly couple from Lubbock hasn’t been seen since 3 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27. According to the Carson County Sheriff’s Office, Linda and Gary Lightfoots were last seen at the 2300 block of 59th Street in Lubbock but are not believed to have made it to their Lubbock home. On Sunday the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued a Silver Alert amid the ongoing search, which now spans Texas and New Mexico.
Linda Eppers Lightfoot, 81, is a white female with gray hair and brown eyes, standing at 5’3” and weighing 128 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black and white blouse, dark pants and a bulky silver necklace.
Charles “Gary” Lightfoot, 82, is a white male with gray hair and brown eyes, standing at 5’9” and weighing 197 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray sweater and black sweatpants.
The Lightfoots are believed to be traveling in a silver 2024 Toyota Camry with Texas license plate TWN0925. According to local authorities, the vehicle was last seen in Santa Rosa or San Jon, New Mexico on Friday, Nov. 28. It’s unknown which direction the car was traveling in or where the intended destination was.
Local news reports neither Linda nor Gary have a cell phone or other traceable device. Carson police believe their disappearance “poses a credible threat to their health and safety.” Gary is oxygen-dependent, meaning he needs supplemental oxygen to function properly because his body cannot get enough oxygen on his own. He likely uses a device like a nasal cannula or a CPAP machine.
In a Monday update, Panhandle Police Chief Sace Hardman confirmed the Lightfoots had not been seen since leaving a family gathering in the city of Panhandle. New Mexico State Police, the Texas Rangers, Panhandle PD and Carson Co. SO are coordinating in the search.
The Carson County Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with information about the Lightfoot couple’s whereabouts to contact them at (806) 537-3511. If you see Linda or Gary, call 911 immediately.
In 2007, Texas created the Silver Alert system, which is similar to the AMBER Alert system but is used for older adults aged 65 or older with “a documented mental condition.”